Today’s press have linked Barcelona central defender Marc Bartra with a move to Old Trafford to put a smile on the faces of the Manchester United supporters, who are enjoying a Friday evening pint here in the Transfer Tavern.
The Catalan giants are set to let their young talent leave the club in the summer and although several clubs are interested, a move to United seems like an attractive proposition for the player.
The 25-year-old has played 56 times for the Spanish club and a deal could be completed in the summer for around £10 million, with his current club putting a buy-back clause in any move he makes away from the Nou Camp.
Given this news, talk has turned among the United supporters here in the Tavern towards who might join him at Old Trafford next season.
Our writer Lee Clarke took a look at five players who could join the Spaniard in the red of Manchester United for the 2016/17 campaign!
Hit Bartra below to see FIVE players who could follow Bartra to Man United!
[ffc-gallery]
[/ffc-gallery]
Gareth Bale
Bale is loving life in Real Madrid by his own admission but it remains to be seen whether a move back to the Premier League is on the horizon.
Players don’t tend to choose to leave Madrid, they get told that they are not wanted and although unlikely, that could just happen to Bale.
It has been reported previously that Cristiano Ronaldo is not overly keen on the attention which the Welsh wizard receives and the Spanish giants could choose to offload Bale.
United were beaten to the signing of Bale when he left Tottenham for Madrid and should he become available again, United will no doubt be at the front of the queue.
Michael Antonio
The ex-Nottingham Forest winger was linked with Manchester United last week and it is thought that the club are keen on the West Ham United man.
It would represent a remarkable turnaround for Antonio should he make the move to Old Trafford, as he was playing Championship football less than a year ago.
Antonio has been one of the standout performers of the season for West Ham United and they will not want to lose a prized asset so soon after signing him.
The lure of Manchester United could be telling though and Antonio could be in line for a summer switch.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Paris Saint-Germain forward looks set to finally secure a move to the Premier League this summer and his destination could most definitely be Old Trafford.
United are desperate for some world class talent and in particular a proven talisman, which is where Zlatan’s arrival could be important.
Having shone in Serie A and La Liga in the past, many will question whether or not he can have the same level of impact in the English top flight and the move will bring an air of intrigue with it.
Given that the Swede is coming to the end of his career, he will be desperate to make a success of playing for United.
Marco Reus
Given his form for Borussia Dortmund this season, the question has to be asked of just how much longer this talent can stay out of the clutches of Europe’s elite.
The German international is passionate about Dortmund like no other player but if someone of the ilk of Manchester United made a bid it is likely to turn his head.
The 26-year-old put Tottenham to the sword last night with a superb brace and he is a really important player to the German side.
It would take an astronomical bid to prise him away from Dortmund but United have the case and this really would be money well spent.
Mario Gotze
Another talented German international who United have been heavily linked with of late, is their World Cup Final match winner of 2014.
Mario Gotze is hot property in European football and with Pep Guardiola on his way out of Bayern Munich it could lead to several of his start quitting the club also.
Still only 23-years-old the ex-Dortmund man would have no shortage of suitors should he choose to leave Munich and it is highly likely that United would be one of them.
Despite his tender years, Gotze has already collected an impressive 48 caps from the German national team.
